Deja Vu All Over Again; Ellsbury Walks Off Again

Sports Illustrated

Red Sox 4 Indians 3
Winning Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: Joe Smith (2-2)


Recap
Jacoby Ellsbury had a walk-off hit for the second straight night on Wednesday night, sending the fans home happy after breaking the 3-3 tie in the bottom of the ninth with a blast to straightaway center field. Unfortunately, in the win, Tim Wakefield pitched well, but he was unable to record the win, which would have been the 200th of his career. Wakefield had the knuckleball working, allowing only three hits through the first six innings. His biggest struggle was the fourth, in which he gave up all three of those hits. He hung a knuckler to Jason Kipnis to lead off the inning, and the rookie second baseman hit a home run in his fourth straight game. He also gave up a single, then an RBI double to Travis Hafner, which gave the Indians a 2-1 lead at the time. Wake through 99 pitches in the outing, and that fourth inning was the only one in which he threw more than 13 (he threw 26 pitches in the 4th). Wakefield ended up going 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and six strikeouts. He induced eight whiffs in the game, all on the knuckleball, which he threw on all but four pitches. 

Quick Hits

• David Ortiz knocked in two runs in the first, and it was his first RBI since his grand slam against Kansas City on July 27th. The double would be his only hit of the game
• Randy Williams pitched very well out of the 'pen in relief of Wakefield. Williams went 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing no hits, a walk and striking out two. 
• Jonathan Papelbon threw another 1-2-3 inning, including one strikeout for the Red Sox closer. He has been lights out all year, and said that he is throwing as well as he ever has.

The Red Sox and Indians complete their four game series tonight at 7:10 PM ET. Boston will send Erik Bedard (4-7 3.45) to the mound for his team-debut against Cleveland's Justin Masterson (8-7 2.56).